Timeless Dignity

Holy man in Rajasthan - Sara Gabriëls

In 2019 I travelled to India for the second time and felt a profound connection with the people I encountered. Their openness and dignity touched me deeply, and I wanted to translate that inner encounter into images. All of these portraits were taken in the streets, never staged, and always with the person’s consent. Conversations were not possible, yet showing the image afterwards created a silent dialogue—bringing satisfaction and a sense of mutual respect, both for the person portrayed and for myself. My portraits are not fleeting registrations but quiet encounters. Each face carries a unique life story, radiating strength and pride regardless of age or background. By choosing black and white, all distractions are stripped away. What remains is pure emotion, texture and light—a timeless essence where the soul of the person becomes tangible. With this series I do not aim to explain, but to let the photographs speak. The image tells the story; the viewer is invited to listen. With this series I do not aim to explain, but to let the photographs speak. The image tells the story; the viewer is invited to listen.